Celiac Disease is an autoimmune condition of severe gluten intolerance. It is found commonly in people who have thyroid diseases, especially the autoimmune types (Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' Disease). For some people, their bodies begin to develop intolerance to things they eat that contain wheat, barley, rye and oats (gluten). Their bodies began to recognize these foods as being harmful and their immune systems create antibodies to attack cells found in the lining of the small intestine that help break down gluten so that the body absorbs the nutrients from it. As a result, inflammation develops in the digestive tract and the person suffering the condition will begin to experience symptoms. Here are some tips on the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of Celiac Disease.
What are the symptoms of Celiac Disease? When intolerance to gluten triggers autoimmune reactions in the body, this is referred to as a food intolerance or allergy. The symptoms may include stomach pain/upset, chronic indigestion, nausea, hives/rash, itching and mild fever. The symptoms vary among individuals affected and some people have very few symptoms while others may become quite ill. Over time, the disease can potentially result in permanent damage to the small intestine. People with long-term and severe cases, can also become deficient in necessary nutrients that can no longer be absorbed by the damaged small intestine. If left untreated, over time, this can result in anemia for some people and in weight loss, malnutrition and osteoporosis for others.
Blood tests are usually all that is needed to diagnose Celiac Disease. When symptoms of gluten intolerance are identified in someone with Celiac Disease, a doctor will order blood tests to detect the antibodies that cause the autoimmune response in the body. If the antibodies are positive, this usually provides a definitive diagnosis for the condition. Other people however may test negative for the antibodies but still suffer the disease and in these more rare cases, the doctor may order a biopsy to be done on the patient’s small intestine. The tissue sample is then analyzed to determine whether the disease is present, so that proper treatment can be prescribed by a qualified physician.
What are the treatments for Celiac Disease? The most important part of treatment for Celiac Disease is to remove all products containing gluten from the diet. This would include oat and wheat products like breads, cookies, cereals and beverages containing barely or malt. If inflammation in the small intestine is severe or not easily resolved by eliminating gluten from the diet, the treating doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid anti-inflammatory drug to reduce inflammation. Treatment will also include supplementing the patient with any nutrients or vitamins that have become low in their system due to past or ongoing malabsorption of them. If damage to the small intestine occurred in the patient, medications to help with digestion and stomach upset may also be prescribed and rarely patients may need surgical removal of severely damaged areas of the small intestine.
If you experience allergy or intolerance to gluten food products, see your doctor for testing to determine if the cause is Celiac Disease. If you suffer another autoimmune disease affecting the thyroid or other types this is even more important because it increases your risk for developing Celiac Disease.
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